Plant harvester

ABSTRACT

A harvester for plants and weeds, particularly aquatic plants, pulls the plants by winding them onto a rotating, endless cable. Tension in the cable is controlled, and an operative portion of the cable is positionable for varying its height and angle to the horizontal. The harvester is mountable on a boat having an adjustable freeboard and multiple, individually driven, retractable paddle wheels provide maximum maneuverability during use and compactness during transport.

This invention relates to a plant harvester and more particularly toapparatus for winding plant growth about a moving cable and tearing theplant growth and roots from the earth.

The apparatus is self-contained and mountable upon a platform to becarried by a vehicle for clearing undesirable weed or plant growth fromfields, farms and the like and, in one preferred embodiment, theapparatus is mountable upon a particularly designed boat for harvestingaquatic plant growth from lakes, rivers, canals and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an improvement over the inventor's U.S. Pat. No.4,328,658 which was granted on May 11, 1982. The patent disclosesapparatus for rotating a cable about its longitudinal, axis and movingthe cable through plant growth and winding it upon the cable and, in theprocess, pulling the roots of the plant for precluding or minimizingregrowth.

The patent discloses the apparatus as being useful with a pair of landvehicles, or one land vehicle and a boat, or with a pair of boats. Inoperation, a cable is moved through plant growth, the cable is rotatedabout its longitudinal axis, the plants, or weeds, are wrapped about thecable which is then drawn back into the apparatus, and cutters areprovided for removing the plant growth from the cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to self-contained apparatus wherein theharvester mechanism is mountable upon a platform carried by a singlevehicle, such as a truck or the like, while a preferred embodimentutilizes a single watercraft, i.e., a boat, for removing aquatic plantgrowth from bodies of water.

An object of the invention is to provide a floating harvester comprisinga buoyant hull, the hull including a plurality of independentcompartments for entrapping air therein, the compartments containingopenings therein for allowing entry and egress of water for entrappingair in the compartments and floating the hull upon a body of water,harvester means carried by the hull for harvesting plant growth in thebody of water, and means carried on the hull for varying the amount ofwater and air entrapped in the compartments for adjusting the freeboardof the hull.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a floating harvesterwith means for varying the freeboard of the hull and simultaneouslychanging the operating depth of the harvester apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a watercraft comprisinga hull having a bow, a stern, a port side and a starboard side, aplurality of paddle wheels, means for mounting individual ones of thepaddle wheels respectively at the bow, stern, port side and starboardside, and independent drive means for individually rotating each of theplurality of paddle wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a watercraft whereineach of the plurality of paddle wheels includes mounting means forpivotally connecting the paddle wheels to the hull for moving the paddlewheels between a lower operating position and a raised inoperativeposition whereby the watercraft may be selectively moved forwardly,rearwardly, laterally and rotationally.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved paddlewheel for propelling a craft upon a body of water, the paddle wheelcomprising a central hub, motor means mounted within the central hub,vane means extending outwardly from the hub and openings formed in thehub for directing water from the vane means across the motor means forcooling the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a paddle wheel withmounting means for mounting the motor means and the paddle wheel on thecraft, the mounting means including pivot means for pivotally connectingthe motor means and the paddle wheel to the craft and means for raisingand lowering the paddle wheel about the pivot means between an operativeposition and a stowed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a harvester of the typeincluding a cable means which is rotated about its longitudinal axis forwinding plant growth thereon, the improvement comprising an intake tubefor receiving the cable means and plant growth carried thereby, theintake tube having a bight portion, and guide means disposed at thebight portion for guiding the cable means past the bight portion and outof contact with the intake tube.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a harvester of thetype including a cable means which is rotated about its longitudinalaxis for winding plant growth thereon, the improvement comprisingplatform means for supporting the harvester thereon, transport means formoving the platform means and the harvester over plant growth to beharvested, the cable means comprising an endless cable, a cable outputguide and a cable intake guide for defining a path of movement for theendless cable, the endless cable having an operative portion thereofextending between the cable output guide and the cable intake guide, andmeans for adjustably positioning the operative portion of the endlesscable by raising and lowering the operative portion relative to theplatform.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a harvesterwherein the transport means comprises a watercraft for moving on a bodyof water, and the platform means comprises a deck portion of the craft,the means for adjustably positioning the operative portion of theendless cable comprises means for pivotally mounting the cable outputguide and the cable intake guide relative to each other whereby theoperative portion of the endless cable can be oriented horizontally andat various angles to the horizontal, the harvester including tensioningmeans for tensioning the operative portion of the endless cable whereinadjustable means are connected to and between the cable output guide andthe cable intake guide for varying the distance therebetween.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a harvester with atumbling means for rotating the endless cable about its longitudinalaxis, a capstan mounted on the tumbler for pulling the endless cablealong its length and through the cable output guide and the cable intakeguide.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such a harvesterwith tightening means mounted adjacent to the tumbler means and incontact with the endless cable, the tightening means including a driveroller, means for rotating the drive roller for tightening the wrappedportion of the endless cable into driving contact with the capstan, thetightening means further comprising a pulley disposed in contact withthe endless cable, and fluid motor means for moving the pulley towardthe drive roller for forcing the endless cable into contact with thedrive roller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a harvester apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention, the harvester apparatus being mounted upon aplatform, i.e., the deck of a boat provided with a plurality of paddlewheels for providing mobility for the apparatus.

FIG. 2 i an elevational view of the boat and harvesting apparatus andillustrates adjustable features of the harvesting apparatus and paddlewheels.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a boat, with the harvester apparatus removed,and illustrates a series of compartments in the hull thereof including amanifold for supplying pressurized air to adjust the freeboard of theboat.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3, andillustrates openings in the hull for allowing entry and egress of waterto adjustably vary the freeboard of the boat.

FIG. 5 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4,and illustrates the introduction of air into compartments of the hullfor varying the water contained within the compartments.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of a central portionof FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end view, looking from the right of FIG. 1, and illustratesmechanisms for positioning the harvester cable and adjusting tension ofthe cable.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the harvester cablemechanism and illustrates the path of movement of the endless cable froman output guide tube and into a larger cable intake guide, and anadjustable framework for changing the spacing of the output guide andintake guide for adjusting tension in the cable.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8,and illustrates a sheave fixedly secured in a bight portion, or elbow,of the cable intake guide.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken on line 10--10 of FIG. 9, andillustrates the harvester cable and plant growth wrapped therearound asthe cable passes through the bight of the intake guide tube.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, elevational view, taken on line 11--11 of FIG.1, and illustrates a tumbler mechanism for rotating the endless cableabout its longitudinal axis, and also illustrates a drive capstan forpulling the cable along its longitudinal length, and a tightening orsnubbing mechanism for tightening the cable about the capstan forproviding a driving connection therewith.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary section, taken on line 13--13 ofFIG. 11, and illustrates an adjustable drive mechanism for pulling onthe cable to tighten the same about the capstan.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, sectional view, taken on line 14--14 of FIG.11.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a pivotally mountedstructure for carrying an individual drive motor for one of the paddlewheels and also illustrates a winch mechanism for moving the paddlewheels from an operative to an inoperative position.

FIG. 16 is an exploded view and illustrates the manner of assembling apaddle wheel into position with its drive motor.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view and illustrates the paddle wheelbeing mounted in operative position.

FIG. 18 is a jump-section, taken on line 18--18 of FIG. 16, andillustrates constructional details of the paddle wheel.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of another form of paddle wheel.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view, taken on line 20--20 of FIG. 19, andillustrates details of construction for the second form of paddle wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A plant or weed harvester assembly, generally indicated by the numeral10, has the various components thereof mounted and arranged upon aplatform 12, which platform may be mounted upon a vehicle, or farm truck(not shown), or may be mounted upon a watercraft or boat 14.

Harvester assembly 10 includes an endless cable 16 which is pulled by acapstan 18 in a generally rectangular path through an output guide tube20, across a rear portion 22 of platform 12, through a cable intakeguide tube 24 and back to capstan 18. In addition to being pulled alongits longitudinal length by capstan 18, endless cable 16 is also causedto rotate about its longitudinal axis by a tumbler apparatus, generallyindicated by the numeral 26, which is somewhat similar to the tumblerapparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,658. Specific details oftumbler apparatus 26 will be more particularly described later in thisspecification.

In one preferred form of the invention, harvester assembly 10 is usefulfor harvesting undesirable plant growth in shallow lakes, rivers andcanals. In such an embodiment, platform 12 comprises the deck of boat14. As is evident from FIGS. 1-6, boat 14 is comprised of a buoyant hull28 which includes a series of hollow compartments 30, six suchcompartments being shown, and a plurality of baffle plates or partitions32 are secured within and to the bottom of hull 28 and extend upwardlyjust short of deck or platform 12 to provide a series of air passageways34 to distribute pressurized air throughout the series of hollowcompartments 30. When boat 14 is operated in shallow water, it is notunusual to encounter submerged obstacles such as large roots, treestumps, rocks and various types of debris. The underside of hull 28 istherefore protected by reinforced skid bars 36 and, in addition, whilebuoyant hull 28 is designed to have a shallow draft, boat 14 is equippedwith a reservoir 38 which contains pressurized air that can bedistributed through a manifold 40 and a network of air lines 42 todistribute pressurized air to each of the hollow compartments 30. Aseries of openings 44 are formed in each of the various compartments 30to allow entry and exit of water in an amount determined by thepressurized air within the compartments 30. During stormy weather orrough water conditions, it is desirable to reduce the freeboard so thatboat 14 rides low in the water, and this is readily accomplished byreducing the pressurized air in the hollow compartments 30 by allowingair to exit through an air valve or vent 46 included within manifold 40.As a result, water enters through the series of openings 44 in thebottom of hull 28. In very shallow water, or when the skid bars 36encounter submerged obstacles, pressurized air from reservoir 38 isintroduced through manifold 40 and air lines 42 to reduce the amount ofwater contained within the hollow compartments 30 and thereby increasethe freeboard, to decrease the draft of boat 14 and allow the buoyanthull 28 to float high in the water. It will also be understood that thisfeature of adjusting the draft and freeboard of boat 14 is also usefulfor adjusting the underwater depth of endless cable 16 at the rearportion of platform 12 located at the stern of buoyant hull 28.

Boat 14 is made to be highly maneuverable by providing a pair of paddlewheels 48 at the port and starboard sides, a third paddle wheel 50 atthe stern and a fourth paddle wheel 52 at the bow. Each paddle wheel isindependently driven and may be rotated in opposite directions; as aresult, boat 14 may be moved forwardly, rearwardly, laterally, orrotationally.

As is best shown in FIGS. 1 2, 7 and 8, endless cable 16 is movedlengthwise in a predetermined path. The operative portion of cable 16,i.e., that portion upon which weeds or other plant growth are wound andpulled by their roots, is that portion of endless cable 16 which extendsbetween output guide tube 20 and cable intake guide tube 24. Theoperating depth and inclination of the operative portion of endlesscable 16 are adjustable by raising and lowering guide tubes 20 and 24,as is best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Output guide tube 20 is pivotallymounted in a pivot block 54 and may be raised and lowered by a port-sidewinch 56 which carries a cable or line 58. Likewise, cable intake guidetube 24 is pivotally mounted in a pivot block 60 for rotation in asubstantially vertical plane and is movable by a starboard winch 62which carries a cable or line 64. The individual depth of tubes 20 and24 can be varied to dispose cable 16 horizontally or at inclinationsthereto in order to accommodate various slopes and terrain in the river,canal or lake bed.

A tensioning frame 66 includes a pair of spreader arms 68 and 70 whichare pivotally connected to guide tubes 20 and 24 and have their upperends connected by a hydraulic cylinder 72 which extends or contracts toslacken or add tension to cable 16. Telescoping support members 74,preferably square or rectangular, are carried by platform 12 and carrypivotally mounted sleeves 76 through which spreader arms 68 and 70 slideduring raising and lowering of guide tubes 20 and 24 by winches 56 and62, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the operative portion of endless cable 16passes from the intake guide tube 20 and enters a funnel 78 fixed at theentrance portion of cable intake guide tube 24. As was previously noted,cable 16 is continuously rotated about its axis by tumbler apparatus 26,and weeds or other plant growth are wrapped about the cable 16 andpulled by their roots. As is best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a sheave 82is rotatably mounted within an opening 84 which is formed at an elbow orbight 86 of the guide tube 24. A pair of support brackets 88 are welded,at 90, and rotatably mount sheave 82 on an axle 92. Sheave 82 includes aseries of spaced ribs 94 which form a series of spaced grooves 96therebetween. Tension in cable 16 causes the plant growth 80 wrappedtherearound to be pressed into grooves 96 and provide a drivingconnection for rotating sheaves 82 about axle 92. As a result, cable 16is moved through the elbow or bight 86 without causing any jamming orexcessive wear on guide tube 24.

FIGS. 11-14 show a tumbler apparatus 26 which is somewhat similar tothat shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,658. Capstan 18 is rotatablymounted upon a frame 100, on an axle 102 and rotatably driven by a drivechain 103 connected to a gear box 104 and is balanced by a series ofcounterweights 106. Frame 100 is rotatably mounted in a bearing block108 by a sleeve which is rotatably driven by a gear and chain 112(connected to a drive motor, not shown) for rotating frame 100 and agear and chain 113 (connected to a drive motor, not shown) for rotatinga sleeve 110, drive member 109, gear box 104 and capstan 18 forimparting rotation to endless cable 16 about its axis. A similar drivemechanism is shown in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,658.

Cable 16 has several loops thereof wrapped about capstan 18, as is bestshown in FIG. 12, and must be kept snug therewith to maintain a pullingaction. As is best shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a friction drive roller 114is rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor 116 and provides a pullingaction for tightening the wrapped portion of endless cable 16 intodriving contact with capstan 18. Cable 16 is maintained in drivingrelationship with drive roller 114 by a pulley 118 which is rotatablymounted upon a sliding frame 120 carried by a fluid motor 122 for movingframe 120 and pulley 118 to force cable 16 into driving contact withdrive roller 114.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, cable 16 and plant growth 80 exits from guidetube 24 around a second sheave 82A and enters a cutter mechanism 124which includes a rotating blade 126 for stripping plant growth 80 fromthe cable 16. Chopped plant growth 128 moves through a chute 130 into aconventional harvester machine 132 and out through a harvester chute134. As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, harvester chute 134 may bepivotally mounted, at 136, to reduce its overall height during nonuseand can be rotated to an outboard position by a motor 138 and rack 140so that chopped plant growth 128, which has been stripped from cable 16by cutter blade 126, can be loaded into an accompanying barge (notshown) maintained alongside and periodically driven to the shore andemptied.

The port and starboard paddle wheels 48, the stern paddle wheel 50 andthe bow paddle wheel 52 are each pivotally mounted so as to be movablefrom their operating position, as is shown in FIG. 1, to a stowedposition when not being used to propel the boat 14 or when the boat isbeing moved over land, such as being transported on a truck. As is bestshown in FIGS. 15-17, a T-shaped mounting means, generally indicated bythe numeral 150, includes a leg 152 secured to a stem 154 which ispivotally mounted in spaced bearing blocks 156 secured to the platformor deck 158 of the buoyant hull 28. A hydraulic drive motor 160 isfixedly secured to an end of leg 152 by a rigid mounting bracket 162 androtates a drive plate 164. As is best shown in FIG. 15, a motor drivenwinch 166 is mounted upon a gin pole 168 and includes a cable or line170 which is attached to leg 152. Thus, winch 166 can raise or lowerhydraulic motor 160 by rotating the stem 154, of mounting means 150, inthe bearing blocks 156. A shock absorber spring 172 is secured to ginpole 168 for engaging leg 152 when it is in the raised position.Mounting means 150 also includes a locking beam 174 which is welded orotherwise securely fastened to leg 152 and is locked to deck 158 by apair of locking straps 176 and levers 178 which are pivotally fastenedto a pair of spaced holddown blocks 180.

Details of the various paddle wheels and mounting thereof are shown inFIGS. 16-20. In FIG. 16, hydraulic drive motor 160 is shown locked inits operative position extending outboard of the hull 28. Paddle wheel48 includes a hub 182 and a mounting plate 184 which is assembled withand secured to the drive plate of motor 160 by a plurality of bolts 186.Paddle wheel 48 includes a circular inboard end member 188 and anoutboard end member 190 and a plurality of paddles or vanes 192 whichare fixedly secured to the end members and to the central hub 182. Acomparison of FIGS. 16 and 17 will show that paddle wheel 48 is movedaxially to locate hydraulic drive motor 160 within the hub 182 so thatmounting plate 184 can be secured to drive plate 164 with the bolts 186.Central hub 182 terminates at a frustoconical end portion 194 which isclosed by a circular end closure plate 196 attached thereto by bolts198. It is preferable that a canopy or cover 200 be used to enclose thevarious paddle wheels for safety purposes.

It will be understood that when the vanes 192 are rotated there is atendency to pick up water and carry it upwardly with the vanes. This isparticularly true when the boat 14 is riding low in the water because offlooding of the hollow compartments 30. As is best shown in FIGS. 16 and17, the hub 182 is provided with a plurality of radial openings 202which allow any water carried upwardly by the vanes 192 to cascadeacross hydraulic motor 160 to provide a cooling action thereto. Vanes192 are also provided with crescent shaped openings 204 in order topreclude water from being carried upwardly over the top and dumped infront of the paddle wheel 48. Thus, the radial openings 202 and crescentshaped openings 204 not only allow water to be vented but make use ofsuch water to cool the motor 16. Water which is carried upwardly by theoutboard vanes 192 cascades downwardly along the frustoconical endportion 194 of hub 182 and exits at the outboard end of paddle wheel 48.

Paddle wheel 52, at the bow of boat 14, is smaller than the side paddlewheels 48 or stern paddle wheel 50. As is shown in FIGS. 19 and 20,paddle wheel 52 includes a plurality of paddles or vanes 210 which arewelded or otherwise fixedly secured to a central hub. Hub 212 isprovided with a central mounting plate 214 so that paddle wheel 52 maybe axially secured to motor 160 (as is indicated by the directionalarrow 216 connecting FIG. 19 to FIG. 16). Hub 212 is provided with aseries of radial openings 218, and vanes 210 are provided with crescentshaped openings 220 for allowing water to cascade therethrough forcooling the drive motor 160. Water can also escape through openings 222(along arrows 224) which are formed in hub 212 outwardly of mountingplate 214.

Finally, as will h=seen in FIG. 1, all of the power requirements foroperating the various equipment can be supplied by an engine 226, a fueltank 228, and a hydraulic pump 230. All of the various necessarycontrols can be located adjacent to an operator's chair 232.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been disclosed apreferred embodiment of a weed or plant harvester which providesadvantages not heretofore found in the prior art; the spirit and scopeof the invention is, however, not to be restricted by the detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment but only by the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

I claim:
 1. A harvester of the type including a cable means which isrotated about its longitudinal axis for winding plant growth thereon,the improvement comprising an intake tube for receiving said cable meansand plant growth carried thereby, said intake tube having a bightportion, and guide means disposed at said bight portion for guiding saidcable means past said bight portion and out of contact with said intaketube.
 2. A harvester as defined in claim 1 including an open formed insaid intake tube at said bight portion, said guide means comprising asheave, and means for rotatably mounting at least a portion of saidsheave within said intake tube at said opening.
 3. A harvester asdefined in claim 2 wherein said sheave includes rib means on a surfacethereof for receiving plant growth carried by said cable means forrotating said sheave within said opening.
 4. A harvester of the typeincluding a cable means which is rotated about its longitudinal axis forwinding plant growth thereon, the improvement comprising:a. a unitaryplatform means for supporting said harvester thereon; b. transport meansfor moving said platform means and said harvester over plant growth tobe harvested; c. said cable means comprising an endless cable; d. acable output guide and a cable intake guide for defining a path ofmovement for said endless cable; e. said endless cable having anoperative portion thereof extending between said cable output guide andsaid cable intake guide; and f. means for adjustably positioning saidoperative portion of said endless cable by raising and lowering saidoperative portion relative to said platform.
 5. A harvester as definedin claim 4 wherein said transport means comprises a watercraft formoving on a body of water and said platform means comprises a deckportion of said craft.
 6. A harvester as defined in claim 4 includingtensioning means for tensioning said operative portion of said endlesscable.
 7. A harvester as defined in claim 6 wherein said tensioningmeans comprises adjustable means connected to and between said cableoutput guide and said cable intake guide for varying the distancetherebetween.
 8. A harvester as defined in claim 4 including a tumblermeans for rotating said endless cable about its longitudinal axis, acapstan mounted on said tumbler for pulling said endless cable along itslength and through said cable output guide and said cable intake guide.9. A harvester as defined in claim 8 wherein said en cable includes aportion thereof wrapped around said capstan, the improvement furthercomprising tightening means mounted adjacent to said tumbler means andin contact with said endless cable, said tightening means including adrive roller, and means for rotating said drive roller for tighteningthe wrapped portion of said endless cable into driving contact with saidcapstan.
 10. A harvester as defined in claim 9 wherein said tighteningmeans further comprises a pulley disposed in contact with said endlesscable, and fluid motor means for moving said pulley toward said driveroller for forcing said endless cable into contact with said driveroller.
 11. A harvester of the type including a cable means which isrotated about its longitudinal axis for winding plant growth thereon,the improvement comprising:a. platform means for supporting saidharvester thereon; b. transport means for moving said platform means andsaid harvester over plant growth to be harvested; c. said cable meanscomprising an endless cable; d. a cable output guide and a cable intakeguide for defining a path of movement for said endless cable; e. saidendless cable having an operative portion thereof extending between saidcable output guide and said cable intake guide; and f. means foradjustably positioning said operatives portion of said endless cable byraising and lowering said operative portion relative to said platform,said means for adjustably positioning said operative portion of saidendless cable comprising means for pivotally mounting said cable outputguide and said cable intake guide relative to each other whereby saidoperative portion of said endless cable can be oriented horizontally andat various angles to the horizontal.